The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-18
PRISON ETE IN RUSSIA.
Suffering of an American in the Gloomy
North-A Ntggardiy Indemnity.


Philadelphia Special to Boston Globe.
After being accused of murder. arrested and
maltreated. thrown into filthy dungeons, tort
ured by brutal Cossacks, and refused protection
ICED citizen Of the United States. has just been
paid the uiggardly sun OF f400 by the Rus
sian government for. a series of most extra
ordinary lndignities heaped upon hir..
Britz was born in Russia and came to this
coutry in.1874 He became citizen of the
State OK New York in 1879 and returned to Rus
STA the year following TO settle up some family
affairs. Without warrant or pretext he was
seized a murderer locked up, and after
undergoing terrible hardships was turned
almost naked into the streets. and the
that ga mistake had been made" His outrage
Gus attracted the attention of Dr. james +.
Love, the American dentist in Alexandria,
Egypt, who wrote to Dr. Edward Bedloe, of this
manity make effort 20 have the govern
ment of the United States take cognizance of
the wrongs imposed upon of It's citizens
DR.. Bedloe who is patriotic TO the core, went to
Washington and had several interviews with
the Secretary of State, but got little or salts
faction. This after Mr.. Britz had
opened correspondence with the State Depart
ment- The Russian government offered to pay
81, 00u indemnity for the mistake" but this
Britt refused to accept claiming that he was
entitled to annuity through mis- life. which
he believed mad been shortened by the barbar-
Gus treatment he had received.
The story of the outrage told in BIRTHS own
words is as follows: ''Having left my native
country, Russia, in 1874 L emigrated to the
United States of America, where / settled IN
New York and became a nasuralized citizen. In
two doctors of Mount Zion Hospital, advised me
to try change of air. and as had some family
affairs to regulate at home, returned to Yalta,
in the Crimea. Here my health was perfectly re-
spent two years, earning my living partly by
trading and partly ia the employ of the tram
way. After the revolution of Alexandria had
been suppressed, l thought that l might find
better place in Egypt, whittier repaired. IN
fortunately my hopes were not realized
and l had to accept a position on the
police force. with a moothly salary of 60
sent to the hospital, and the consul of
Russia, accompanied by the secretary and
governor of Alexandria. made their appearance
me opportunity to speak word to ask for
an explanation of this extraordinary proceeding
One day was sent for by the governor of Alex
andria. who showed me photograph declaring
the same to be my likeness, and that had bru-
tally murdered two women at Nlcoiaief, In Rus
STA. / denied having committed the crime I'M
puted to me or being the man represented by
the photograph, and requested that a competent
person might be sent for in order to prove my
identity with the photograph The government
photographer was at once sent for. and declared
that was not tie man represented by the pho
tograph, but in spite of this official declaration
the Russian consufs influence was great enough
to induce the governor to grant my extradltlon
to Russia, and / was ordered to be sent TO Con-
stantinople and to be placed. my arrival
there. at the disposal of the Russian legation.
On my arrival at Constantinople, however, l
refused permission to go ashore. and was
carried further on to Odessa in great distress
and suffering.
When. in 1883. arrived at Odessa, 1. Of
course, expected to be sent at once to Nicolaief
for trial, but il came otherwise. ! was first sent
to Elizabetherad, then to Balta, Kremenzcuk.
Komnska, thence back to EIizabethgrad
had to stay in prison in each of these places
from five to eight days, In irons with the excep-
tion of Balta, where they kept me two weeks In
prison. During the whole time the authorities
gave me but copeks, or 81 cents, for bread and
water, and had to pay about twenty times this
amount for obtaining this scant allowance.
Having been accustomed to tea every day. had
to pay much as 10 roubles, or So in gold for
each ration of tea, and for allowing me a little
away from a gold watch valued at about
800 Moreover, from the railway station at
Balta to the city Jail, distance Of about three
miles, had to walk in the summer shoes had
brought from Egypt and it being spring and
consequently very cold and dirty. l fell into
the frozen dirt up to my thighs. This gave
me a severe cold, and began to cough violently.
When at last l arrived at NicoaleH had no
trial. but transported to Emerson under the
escort of ten armed guards. whose living had
to pay for the whole distance about fifty miles,
in order that they might not treat me with such
cruelty those people are accustomed to do In
each Jail where they put me the authorities at
the same time put several spies IN order to find
out if l Niniist not, and in the same
way they kept me for whole week in prison at
Cherson. All my clothes, washing, ETC.. that
wanted for myself were stolen from me or had
to give them up. so that L had to remain with
one solitary shirt the whole time. After
weeks sojourn at Cherson Jail, was transported
back foot to Nicolaieff. My feet were swollen
ana covered with blisters, but still l hoped
ferince, and, indeed, after another SIX days
the judge Of instruction sent for me, and, first,
wanted to know how l got to America AS the
Russian law Furnishes emigration without the
allowance OF the competent local auth rites,
with six months Imprisonment. had to have
recourse to lie. telling the judge that my
father emigrated to America in the service of
the Russo-American Company, and that was
born and brought up there from childhood.
Then the judge called ten or fifteen witnesses
to identify me with the accused murderer. but
all testified that l was not like the murderer at
all, who had lived about twenty wears in the
place, and was head shorter than /.
After few days more the authorities Gber-
ated me, and was sent out of prison as poor
and naked a church mouse. l then applied
to the Governor-geueral of Ncol aieff, request
ing him to grant me the means necessary to re-
turn to Alexandria. and there resume my former
position. His eXcellency replied that Tor such
an object he had no funds on hand. / ought to
add here that after my liberation the procurator
OF the State delivered me certificate stating
that had been arrested by mistake, and this
was the only satisfaction / obtained. After my
request had been refused by the Governor-gen-
era 1 wrote to some merchants in Odessa with
whom / had been in business formerly and
they sent me 200 roubles with which l could
effect my to Alexandra. This is
veracious report of Russian justice 1 found
it, and it is owing to the nardships
that l have undergone that my health
is shattered now, and the doctor of the police is
OF the opinion that owing to my Indifferent
health l ought to be forced to retire from the
force. / caused my lawyer to submit the whole
proceeding to the consideration of the Secretary
of State at Washington. in consequence OF which
the Russian government offered me three
months pay-about Sl00-as indemnity for my
voyage from Nicolaieff to Alexandria, which. of
course. I refused to accept. All certificates con-
corning my health were sent by me to the Secre-
tary of State for foreign affairs at Washington,
together with my certificate Of naturalization.
My brother. S. Britt, is also = citizen of the
United States and can vouch for my citizenship
He is a confectioner in Boston, Mass
Sven Brtz Is to-day physical wreck, due to
the privations and hardships he suffered in
Russian dungeons and his Inability secure